Hakan Ibisi carries a photograph of his grandfather in his wallet. Ibisi was photographed for the Philly Block Project, a collaboration between the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center and Hank Willis Thomas. Photo by Wyatt Gallery/Hank Willis Thomas Studio, 2015.

Rendering for The Meadows Arts Park. Rendering by Terra Studio for the Philly Block Project.

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The Philadelphia Photo Arts Center (PPAC) is a nonprofit organization devoted to the study, practice, and appreciation of photography in the Philadelphia region. The organization fulfills this mission by offering photographic exhibitions, lectures by practicing artists, educational programs, and affordable access to high-end digital equipment for the creation of photographs. PPAC is a resource for both practicing artists as well as individuals interested in learning about all aspects of contemporary photography. PPAC received a 2015 Center grant to present Hank Willis Thomas: Philadelphia Block Project, a 15-month, multi-phase engagement and exhibition that invited audiences to consider issues related to gentrification. In 2017, PPAC received Center support for an 18-month residency for South African photographer Zanele Muholi, creating a mobile exhibition space, and engaging with 10 Philadelphia women in telling their own stories through self-portraits and portraits of women in the participants’ lives.